The Effect of Hot- and Cold-Rolling on the Electropulse-Induced Microstructure and Property Changes in Medium Carbon Low Alloy Steels

• Published in: Steel research international Vol. 84; no. 5; pp. 443 - 449
• Main Authors: Yu, W. P., Qin, R. S., Wu, K. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.05.2013; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Carbon; Cold rolling; Dislocations; electropulsing; grain refinement; Hot rolling; Low alloy steels; Microstructure; pearlite; steel; Steel alloys; Steels; Transformations
• ISSN: 1611-3683; 1869-344X
• DOI: 10.1002/srin.201200179

The application of electropulse to hot‐rolled and cold‐rolled, medium carbon low alloy steels has generated completely different effects. For cold‐rolled steel samples, electropulsing treatment causes microstructure refinement and, hence, increments in tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation. For hot‐rolled steels, the effect of electropulsing is found to be negligible. This proves the importance of dislocations in the micromechanism of electropulse‐induced microstructure transformation in solids. The optimal electropulse parameters for the improvement of cold‐rolled steels are observed. The experimental observations are explained within the frameworks of thermodynamics and kinetics of microstructure transformation. A SEM micrograph of cold‐rolled specimens treated with 6.0 kV voltage electropulsing treatment. The electropulsing treatment causes microstructure refinement and improvements in mechanical properties in cold‐rolled steels. The effect of electropulsing is found to be negligible in hot‐rolled steels. The combined effects of high dislocation density and electropulsing causes microstructure transformations.